Feast your eyes on a festival of fantastic films during this year’s Ohio Independent Film Festival

The Ohio
Independent Film Festival (OIFF) is one of those unique Midwest
gems that independent filmmakers know a whole lot about and, every year, film
fans of all shapes, sizes, ages and interests discover for the first time.
Maybe you’re one of them.

If so, now’s your chance to discover the festival – and a
ton of amazing films. The event kicks off this Thursday, Nov. 6, at Atlas Cinemas Lakeshore 7
in Euclid, Ohio.

We recently sat down with Peter
Balint, executive director of the OIFF to learn more about the event.

Midwest
Movie Maker: If this is the first
time I've heard of the OIFF, what should I know?

Peter Balint: The
Ohio Independent Film Festival has brought independent film to Cleveland for more than 20 years! We accept
submissions from around the world in all genres including feature length
narratives and documentaries, as well as shorts, animations, micro shorts and
short docs.

MMM: What's the history
of the OIFF?

PB: Independent Pictures is the
parent organization of OIFF. The nonprofit is dedicated to building a strong
independent film community in Northeast Ohio
by bringing artists, industry experts and audience members together through
exhibition, education and networking events. The film festival is one way we
fulfill the mission.

The Off-Hollywood Flick Fest accepted its first film
submissions in 1992 and held its first screenings in 1993 in a small storefront
in Tremont. The name subsequently changed to The Ohio Independent Film Festival
and the venue is now a proper theater with all the amenities you would expect
to find.

'Project Ice' is one of more than 10 feature films and 40 shorts
screened as part of the OIFF 2014. The William Kleinart documentary
reveals the role ice played in the evolution of the Great Lakes.

PB: Most people
will buy tickets at the door
(so make sure you arrive early), but you can also purchase tickets ahead of
time at www.ohiofilms.com. Also, if you plan on attending a few shows and love
supporting independent film, please consider a VIP
Access Pass which is also available on our website.

MMM: Will the filmmakers
be there? Is there a chance to meet them? Do you do any Q&A?

PB: Yes, some of
our filmmakers will be present. We welcome the opportunity for the audience to
participate in Q&A and meet the filmmakers afterwards. The film Project:
Ice will have an extensive panel afterwards in which local industry experts
will discuss issues related to the content of the film

There's always a good chance you'll meet the filmmakers at the OIFF.
Maybe even Joseph Grasso of 'The Umbrella Man'

MMM: What can filmmakers
learn from the festival?

PB: For one, you
can see what else is out there. Our films were selected by a committee who
found them worthy of screening. This will give you a good idea of what we are
looking for as an industry.

Beyond the technical side of filmmaking, this is a wonderful
networking opportunity to meet the veterans as well as the up-and-comers. We
always recommend bringing business cards or other promotional materials because
you will undoubtedly meet up with others who may, at some point, be able to
offer help or guidance in the filmmaking realm.

Catch Max Miller's 'GoodBoys,' a hysterical short
that wowed Cleveland State University Film Festival
judges. They awarded it Best Picture.

It is interesting to note that Atlas is an independent in
their own rite; they are the only family owned theater organization in our area
and not part of a large chain. We receive incredible support from the folks at
Atlas.

They also go beyond the call of duty when working on
premieres or special events with Cleveland
filmmakers.

Popular posts from this blog

Tina Fey is taking a serious turn, producing 67 Shots, a film about the 1970 Kent State shootings. The movie applied for the Ohio Film Tax Incentive earlier this year and plans to film in and around KSU sometime in 2018.

67 Shots focuses on events that led up to the shooting deaths of four students by Ohio National Guardsmen. The title comes from the numbers of shots those guardsmen fired into the unarmed crowd of protestors. Fey is producing alongside Jeff Richmond, her husband and a Kent State alum. Jay Roach, best known for the Austin Powers and Meet the Fockers franchises, will helm the project. Roach is making more socially and politically aware films at this stage in his career, including Trumbo and Game Change. The film is based on the book 67 Shots: Kent State and the End of American Innocence and is adapted by award-winning playwright Stephen Belber. Fey and Richmond’s production company, Little Stranger, will join Shivani Rawat’s ShivHans Pictures and Michelle Graham’s Everyman…

Emily Kinney, perhaps best known for her role as Beth Greene on AMC’s The Walking Dead, is joining Anhedonia, the new indie feature from Cleveland’s Eric Swinderman and Carmen DeFranco.

Kinney got her start on stage, with roles in Spring Awakening and August: Osage County, before transitioning to guest roles on television and a star turn as Emily on Showtime’s The Big C.

Her breakout role would come as Beth Greene, Maggie Greene’s little sister, on The Walking Dead. Kinney became a fan favorite during a series of dramatic episodes in the series’ fourth season when Kinney’s Greene bonded with fellow survivor Daryl Dixon, played by Norman Reedus.Anhedonia co-stars Breckin Meyer and Giselle Eisenberg.

"To have the opportunity to work with such an amazing actress like Emily is beyond exciting,” says Swinderman. “It's also very exciting for the city and people of northeast Ohio to have three huge TV stars coming to town to work on such a wonderful project.”Anhedonia tells the tal…

Abby Elliott and Breckin Meyer are coming to Cleveland. They are set to star in Anhedonia, the new feature from 1031 Films’ Eric Swinderman and Carmen DeFranco. Filming begins May 1 at locations around Northeast Ohio.